April 25, 2011 11:12 am

Alabama running back Mark Ingram. (AP file photo)

The Seahawks haven’t exactly stockpiled running backs selections recently in the draft. They’ve only drafted 2 running backs in the past decade, Justin Forsett in the seventh round of the 2008 draft and Maurice Morris in the second round of the 2002 draft.

The Seahawks haven’t drafted a running back in the first round since selecting Shaun Alexander as the No. 19 overall choice in the 2000 draft.

Seattle has not selected a receiver in the first round since taking Koren Robinson ninth overall in 2001, and we all how that ended up.

The Seahawks have their top four running backs and receivers locked up for the 2011 season, so it seems unlikely that they will reach for either position in the first two rounds.

However, as my break down in today’s story states, the Seahawks still need a home-run hitter – someone who can break a long gain and put points on the board quickly. And Seattle has not had a Pro Bowl receiver since Brian Blades made it to Hawaii in 1989.

“When you have an offense that struggles to make big plays, you have to find some playmakers, and this draft has some,” said Rob Rang, senior draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com. “So it makes some sense for the Seahawks to add a playmaker at wide receiver or running back at any point of this draft.”

First round, 25th pick: Mark Ingram, 5-9, 215, AlabamaRob’s rationale: Running back isn’t a priority, but with Marshawn Lynch entering the final year of his contract, the Seahawks could surprise should Ingram be the best player available at No. 25.Highlights

Fourth round, 99th pick: Tandon Doss, 6-2, 201, Indiana
Rob’s rationale: The Big Ten leader with 175.8 all-purpose yards a game in 2010, Doss could help as a receiver and returner. Only groin/hip injuries push him to this point in the draft.Highlights

Fifth round, 156th and 157th picks: Jeremy Kerley, 5-10, 189, TCU Rob’s rationale: A quick, tough slot receiver with a penchant for big plays on offense and as a punt returner, some have compared Kerley to former Seahawks standout Bobby Engram.Highlights

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About

Gregg Bell joined The News Tribune in July 2014. Bell had been the director of writing for the University of Washington's athletic department for four years. He was the senior national sports writer in Seattle for The Associated Press from 2005-10, covering the Seahawks in their first Super Bowl season and beyond. He's also been The Sacramento Bee's beat writer on the Oakland Athletics and Raiders. The native of Steubenville, Ohio, is a 1993 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and a 2000 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.

Feeds

Jon Baldwin could end up being a beast of a player, if he can be more consistent and get his head straight(er). I think I might be the only one here who is pretty happy with who we’ve got at wide receiver, so picking a guy this high is not really what I would like to see, I think there’s enough depth and talent later on in the draft to find an extra pair of hands.

A #1WR may be a hood ornament, but they’re nice to have on your team, provided they don’t get ultra-stupid off the field – we’ve had those. Wouldn’t mind having Fitz around, even before we get the OL & DL fixed, but I’d still wish they’d concentrate on getting the lines fixed first. Give our rookie QB more than 0.5 seconds to throw the ball and get our run-game outta the celler. Even if we had Sanchez, it’d be a different story for him here in SEA instead of with the NYJ.

A true #1 receiver is more than “nice to have”. There are absolutely necessary, at some point. To paraphrase Bill Walsh however, they are typically the last piece of the puzzle and Seattle’s not yet in a position to spend a high pick on a WR, IMO.

That said, I’m with JacDG; I really like Baldwin. Big, full-stride fast and great hands. I really can’t see him not being a complete stud in the league. Players like him really make me angry Seattle’s not in better shape, because he is a true #1 that can not only take the top off a defense but can dominate underneath as well. Reminds me of Brandon Marshall (without the idiotic baggage I presume).

As much as I like Obo, he’s really a complimentary piece. In fact, I’d go so far as to say all of Seattle’s receivers are. That doesn’t mean they aren’t good or have ability to make plays. But it does mean none are legit #1s, IMO.

Eric, I would argue that they drafted 2 RB’s in this past 2010 draft. Seahawks traded their 4th and 6th to the Titans for Lendale White and Kevin Vickerson. Then Seattle traded away their 5th to the Jets for Leon Washington but he could be considered a return man. And as Duke pointed out in a post I made the other day Charlie Whitehurst was acquired through trade with a third round pick. So in retrospect he was drafted in the 2010 draft. That would also mean that Deion Branch was drafted in the 1st round of the 2007 draft.

As far as receivers go I think it is time to move on… as in the QB position. Holmgren was capable bringing out the best in Hasselbeck using the TE and short timing throws. TR should never have taken DJack, Stevens and Engram away. Hasselbeck never did recover. Branch may have found a niche with the Pats but he isn’t a league beater just an outlet.

There are several QB’s in this draft, noodle arm or not, that I am ready to proceed with. I’m ready for a QB that will go through a 3rd and 4th progression realizing the oline needs to allow time.

I’m kinda hoping for Austin Pettis if he’s there in the 4th, I think that is incredible value for a WR his size, quickness and ability. I see a lot of value in Jeff Maehl because he just seems to get open, catch with his hands and very clutch. Seems like he could be that 3rd down target like Engram/Stokley were and I haven’t seen him in a mock draft higher than the 7th round. I’d be fine seeing the Hawks take Ingram in the first he happens to fall and is the best player available. But its so hard because OL, DL, CB and QB are greater needs that could be addressed there as well.

Maehl is a tough kid with great hands and pretty quick. He’s a guy you can send over the middle and know he’ll come down with it regardless. He was a lot of fun to watch at Oregon, in part because he took a pounding, but it’s hard to imagine he’ll get drafted. He’ll be signed by someone for sure, just not a real dynamic athlete.

excile – I agree. You will not hear one complaint from me if we use both of our first two picks on offensive linemen. No matter what, we need QB, G, RT, DT, and CB. We need to address two of these positions with our first two rounds and if the two happen to be LG and RT… that’s the way it goes.

On a different note, I happen to think there will be more drafting for BPA in this draft than usual. Teams know that they will be able to fill other pieces in free agency, since that hasn’t happened yet. On the flip side, what the heck is free agency going to begin? Will it be early enough for teams to actually get guys signed, into camp, etc. or will there be an especially urgent need to fill holes in this draft? I think it will be the drafting of BPA though.

i wouldn’t mind seeing the team pick up titus of boise state. Although I would be perfectly happy to trade away multiple picks this year and get some good ones for next year (new england style) so they would have ammunition to get luck next year.
They will need the ammunition because Whitehurst is going to light it up this year! (I am serious)

I can see “getting by” with one guard position if need be. Not that I want that because, I don’t, and we always want good players at every position. However, that one guard must be good. For example, I hate our RT/RG (assuming Unger is penciled in at center) situation as much as anyone else, but if we are only allowed to address LG in the draft with a Pouncey or Cannon… then I will actually feel decent about the state of the offensive line because we will at least have a strength on it (the left side – Okung/Pouncey or Cannon/Unger). We will have an area that we know we can run behind in short yardage situations and that will make things easier not only for the entire offense and team, but the right side of the line, too. The only thing (of many) that sucks is that I don’t believe Pouncey will be there at #25, nor do I believe Cannon will be there when we pick in the 2nd round, and our 1st rounder is too early to take Cannon. Hopefully, we can get lucky and get one of those two, whether it’s by trading down or having one falling to us.

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